A massive data leak last Wednesday made sure that digital companies were awake. The streaming service for gaming and entertaining, known as Twitch, was the victim in an attack on their internal systems. Sensitive information about loans has been leaked and not only that, but also very important code for the core services of Twitch has been published. Sources confirm that at least 100GB of data has been leaked (BBC News, 2021). This is an enormous leak which could be very harmful for the streaming service. It must have felt like more than just a little twitch.
This incident shows the world again how important it is to invest in data security. As more and more companies become data driven and almost every organization uses more software every year, the importance of data security will only increase. Specific code is more than just a tool to run certain services, in this age of digitalization it is most of the time a competitive advantage. That makes it a target for competitors who feel no moral obligation to play it ‘fair’. For the industry in which Twitch operates, the leak of their code could lead to a much lower entry bargain for other companies to start a streaming service as well, since they can just copy parts of the code that has been developed by Twitch employees.
In the same way as patents can be crucial for the survival of a firm that sells physical products, so is the security of the code and the data of digital firms. Investing in data security can hardly be overestimated. Organizations should focus as much on this as on developing their core product or service itself. The growing demand for reliable data security systems also brings new opportunities. Companies that offer products and services that help defend against digital attacks, could see their output growing in the upcoming years.
Referencing
Twitch confirms massive data breach. (2021). BBC News. [online] 6 Oct. Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58817658 [Accessed 8 Oct. 2021].
